Welcome Welcome

I was quite glad to be asked - could the youth worship team come by our place for a thanksgiving dinner cum looking ahead to 2013 time? SURE~ But ummm, make sure the place is cleaned up after? Thanks!

So it was. An evening of good food, good fellowship and good chats, followed by good clearing up after. Thank You Lord!

It Finally Happened!

It has finally happened! 

The youngest is actually behind the wheel! 

Oh my oh my! 

Hubby had taught me to drive. He gave Arrow #1 and Arrow #2 their first lessons. It seemed only right that he gave Arrow #3 her first lesson too. Wow. Time flies.

Thankful that the children are growing up well. Continue to pray for them almost daily. May we grow in wisdom, spiritual stature and fear of the Lord.

About Time

Arrow #3 had been using hand-me-down furniture for years. Uncomplainingly too, bless her. 

Finally the wardrobe fell apart. Well, almost literally. The doors wont go back on anymore. Repairs are futile. 

So Hubby and I went shopping. And boy, did we shop! This delivery came a few days later!

Almost all the contents were for us. We decided to get a bedroom suite that was going fairly cheaply and divide up the pieces into the different rooms. Most of the other bedrooms had second hand furniture too!

All in all, it was quite an exciting day! Couple that with my re-arranging Arrow#3's room to her delight,  I think it has been a good few days!

Penguin Poser

The girls had gone out for lunch. They asked what I'd like. So I figured a nice cold coffee would be a treat. The coffee came in a specially sealed cup (see pic on the right)

Now, in itself, a cup like that is pretty usual. The thing was, it had a penguin on the cover. And if you knew Arrow #3, she loves penguins.

So I whatsapp-ed her with a picture of the penguin. See top middle picture.

Her reply was as expected - vintage Arrow #3 - "DID YOU KILL HIM????" meaning did I poke a straw right through the penguin to get to my drink.

I then sent her the next pic on the right to show her I didn't. To her relief.

After that, I showed the whatsapp exchange to the girls, chuckling away.

Which is what Arrow #3 expected me to do.

When did we both get so predictable? Haha!

Countdown to Many

Now that the Musical is over (see EADotCom, Metamor4osis, The Hinge for more info) the countdowns begin for other things!

Arrow #2 has exams but will be back before Christmas.

Arrow #1 has exams too but will also be back before Christmas.

Holidays to look forward to!

My parents are with me so we can enjoy three generations-wise.

The processing of hundreds of responses to the musical. May they be directed to the Lord!

Oh, and yes, early in the new year, we start meetings for the year....

Fun with Arrows

Went out with my third Arrow and some of her friends to see a movie.

It was 3D. It was fun.
We thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

And we enjoyed the short time together.

More time with Arrows is good....

Fathers Day

Anticipation

I am almost counting the days.

Almost because if I really started I would probably get all into a tizz.

What am I talking about?

Why, the time when the whole family can get back together again.

At least try to, even though it is for a short while.

Hmmm maybe I SHOULD get the calendar out. I'd have more to post!

Mothers Day

Like I said before, this family enjoys a laugh.

Arrow #1 posted about being in a relationship a few days ago and drew almost 90 responses. Then for Mother's Day, he indicated that the woman in his life was none other than moi!

Arrow #2, not to be outdone, wrote this. Then he posted it on Facebook and uploaded it to U Tube!
Tune taken from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. A short song I wrote for mother's day. :)

Mama just killed a roach
Would never have the guts to do it
If not for all you taught and said

Mama you brought me up
But now I'm in a country far away

Mama, oooh
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again in 7 years
Carry on, carry on, and expect some grandchildren

Mama, I love you
Have a blessed mother's day
That's all I have to say

Mama, I know I'm a little late
But it's the thought that counts, thats what they say

Mama, oooh
You're the best mom in the world
And even though I'm starting to grow up
You're still mom, you're still mom.
I would like some more brownies. :D

Waited for This!

I've had this article for ages but kept forgetting to use it. FINALLY today I remembered!

So here it is, in celebration of mothers....

Accountant
Arbitrator
Art Appreciator
Arrow Polisher
Ambassador for the King of kings
Builder - of a godly generation
Bookkeeper
Bulk buyer
Counselor
Career Consultant
Chauffer
Children's Pastor
Childhood Psychologist
Creative Designer
Customer Service Representative
Coach
Child Development Specialist
Cheer Leader
Dietitian
Disciplinarian
Director of Home Affairs
Encourager
Entrepreneur
Entertainer
Educator
First lady of the Home
Fashion Consultant
Gardener
Hostess
Hygienist
Historian
Hairdresser
Interior Decorator
Investigator
Intercessor
Janitor
Judge
Librarian
Launderer
Mentor
Master Story Teller
Movie Critic
Nurse
Nutritionist
Nurturer
Nation Changer
Professional Baker
Professional Chef
Professional Cleaner
Paediatrician
Purchasing Agent
Photographer
Personal Manager
Protector
Referee
Recreation Director
Repairer of the Breach
Switchboard Operator
Speech Therapist
Sculptor
Security Guard
Seamstress
Social Coordinator
Safety Instructor
Shepherd - shepherding your flock
Teacher
Time Management Expert
Taxi Driver
Visionary
Walking Encyclopaedia

A New Venture

What makes a grown man who would qualify for a pension soon take up a new venture?

An opportunity.

An opening.

A never-say-retire attitude?

A can-never-ever-retire philosophy?

All of the above?

Haha!

Whatever it is, here it is - the first photo of a cafe that my Hubby opened yesterday! Yummy western food served cafe style.

Located at the 1 Borneo Hypermall in Kota Kinabalu, it's had good food reviews so far. The service needs troubleshooting of course, for a newly opened place.
This photo was taken before the mad lunch rush.

Drop by when you're in the vicinity.

New Ways

A strange lunar new year.

After more than 20 years, the family is not all together. If I recall right, this would be the first time.

Arrows #1 and #2 are across the South China Sea, interacting with other members of the extended family. We were all together for Christmas, so I suppose that makes up for it. But it's strange nonetheless.

We will all be experiencing something new over the next few days. That would be worthwhile blogging about.

Overall though we are glad that each one seems to have their own personal relationship with the Lord, and making seemingly right decisions. Thank the Lord for that grace and mercy!

What an Evening

He could barely stop grinning most of the evening. So many tales to tell with so many friends to tell them to.

Here he is, regaling them with another.
And here she is laughing at his version even as others delight in his gift of narration.
What a lot of laughter and fun there was that evening!

There was a wedding going on outside and we were definitely louder than they were when we were not filling our mouths with food!

Cant Wait but Have to!

I have some photos to show but I just dont have the time to post them!

What a blast for my parents' golden wedding anniversary!

What fun!

My jaws hurt after!

Photos must follow... please be patient....

Phew! Free Wifi

I have been trying to download some videos for the last 24 hours and more. Big files from my brother to show my parents on their golden anniversary dinner because he and his family cant be here .... with no success.

Then we decided to take a drive to the nearby hills. We're on hols here on the other side of the South China Sea.

We decided to take our laptops.

Just as well.

Managed to download all the videos and am happily blogging here for just the price of a cup of coffee. Phew! Now I can work on the presentation for them!

It is Done

The pictures speak for themselves.
I had mine done at around the same age. Old enough to be able to care for them by myself. In my time, it was done by hand and a needle. I will spare you the gory details here. Now they use a gun that is like a stapler.
And presto! All done =)
Simple, nice, and two weeks ago. She swam yesterday.

Something

There is something about going for a prayer meeting with your own child because he/she wants to go.

There is something about being able to hold hands in public with a praying child who is of your own.

There is something about agreeing in prayer with someone praying fervently who is your child.

There is something about knowing that your child is storming the spiritual realm over the same matters that you are.

Whilst humbling,

it also feels good.

Our Anniversary

It was a casual remark - telling an old friend that it was our wedding anniversary.

"Where are you going for dinner?" asked the friend.

"Oh," I replied, a little embarrassed because we hadn't discussed dinner plans due to our busy schedules of late, "probably eat at home." Grin in a silly way. "We haven't got a maid," I add. As if that was a good reason to eat at home! (Actually rather illogical, I know)

Friend shakes head and mutters something like, "Amazing". I continue in flustered tones because I don't want it to seem that we aren't a loving couple, that our anniversary isn't important, etc, "We just came back from England. That's good enough!"

End of conversation.

Or so I thought.

Later, I met this friend again.

A surprise was sprung. Suddenly before me was an envelope. It contained a dinner voucher for a lovely Italian Restaurant downtown. It had to be just obtained. Specially obtained.

"Have a good dinner, enjoy yourselves. You deserve it".

Wow.

So we went.
Upon arrival, the Captain came over to our table and asked for our voucher. How did he know? He mentioned our friend's name. As I suspected, the voucher was obtained a few hours earlier upon learning of our special day. It made the evening more special as we gave thanks for good friends.

This is what I ordered - roast lamb with apple sauce. It was absolutely delicious.
This is what my husband of twenty-seven years had - roast beef with a lovely sauce and side dishes.Good food with good company, thanks to good friends. A memorable evening indeed.

P.S. It was our anniversary, but because we very rarely have dinner together as a family in this nice restaurant, we brought the children along! It was also an opportunity for them to experience the generosity of friends, and as my eldest said, "Giving of vouchers is an excellent idea" Hence they learn from example and observation.

Celebrating Birthday Away From Home

It was nice of our relatives to do something special for Arrow #2 for his 18th birthday. No idea how they found out, but they did.

He enjoyed their kind and thoughtful gesture.